Wesley b



(No Model.)

W. B.- GARVER 8; E. VARIAN.

TENT FRAME.

No. 288,938. Patented Nov. 20, 188 3.

WITNESSES:

gym:

ATI'ORN EY.

UNITED STATES W'ESLEY B. GARVER AND EDVARD VAR-IAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.; S AID VARIAN ASSIGNOR TO SAID GARVER, AND SAID GARVER ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN WV. FLETCHER, OF SAME PLACE.

TENT-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 288,938, dated November 20, 1883.

Application filed November 13, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, WEsLnY B. GARVER and EDWARD VAR-IAN, both citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Frames for Tents, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the tent-frame embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is aview of one end of the frame folded.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in the several figures.

Our invention consists of a tent-frame so constructed that the central vertical pole heretofore in use is avoided and the sides of the tent are thoroughly stretched and firmly sus tained.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the end pieces of the frame, each consisting of two poles, A A. Each pole is provided near its upper end with a lip or plate, m, and through the lips in of each pair a pivot, n, is passed. Above the pivot each pole is provided with a j aw, B, andthe jaws B of each pair of poles close directly toward each other in the same vertical plane at right angles to the ridgepole A. This ridge-pole is placed between said jaws, and rests on the lips or plates on.- The pintles a do not pass through it. The poles A ma Y be easily and quickly set up, and they then stretch the slant sides or roof of the tent and firmly sustain the same. Furthermore, the tent will be found to be supported without a central vertical pole, so thatit may be entered at either end in a most convenientmanner, such center pole as heretofore employed being an obstruction, and as the poles A stretch the slant sides or roof of the tent and sustain the same, much of the strain on the tent-pins and ropes connected therewith heretofore occasioned is avoided. The jaws B of each pair of legs being in the same ver- 5 tical plane, the more the legs are spread apart below the pivots thereof the more tightly the said jaws will close upon and clamp said ridgepole. Furthermore, to prevent slipping of the ridge-pole on the longitudinal direction of the tentframc, the inner faces of the jaws are toothed, serrated, or roughened, as shown in Fig. 3. The space between the jaws B of each pair of holes A and above the pivot it forms a kind of socket or recess for the reception of the ridge-pole A. As said pivot does not pass through said ridge-pole, and as there is no fastening for said ridgepole except said jaws and the teeth or corrugations formed thereon, whenever said jaws are opened said ridge-pole will be entirely freed, and may be lifted off from the lips on without difficulty.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The poles A A, arranged in pairs, and provided with lips m, which are pivoted together, and jaws B above said lips, in combination with ridge-pole A, on which said jaws close, said ridge-pole resting on said lips above the pivot, and being set free when said jaws open, substantially as set forth.

2. A tent-frame consisting of two pairs of hinged spreading-poles, provided on their upper ends with toothed jaws, in combination with a ridge-pole clamped between said jaws, which bury their teeth therein, substantially as shown.

WESLEY n. GARVER. EDWARD VARIAN.

Witnesses:

J OHN A. WIEDERsHEIM, A. P. GRANT. 

